A PAIR of very early works (each dated 1889, when the artist would have been in only his mid twenties), each 9 1/2" by 14" (15 1/2" by 19" framed) signed at lower right by Northern California artist JULES MERSFELDER (1865-1937). The pair features coastal scenes of boats off of a coast and several small beached boats with tiny figures. Mersfelder was born in Stockton, east of San Francisco and a gateway to the gold fields...

Original watercolor and ink drawing of a tropical orchid species, 20" by 16 1/2" (24" by 20" in mid 20th century simple framing), the botanical name Onsidium luxidum at lower right in pencil. A window in the reverse backing shows, written on a small piece of paper in brown ink in flowing early hand, "From Nature by T. Allport/Enville Hall April 1834." Enville Hall is today a classic English country estate and manor house in Staffordshire, in west-central England...

Watercolor on paper painting of a scene in old historical Saint Augustine, Florida, 4 5/8" by 6 1/2" (9 1/2" by 11 1/2" framed) titled on reverse in another hand "Fatio House", and signed at lower left corner by the listed American artist ROY C. CLARK (1889-1956). Clark was born in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, and died in Washington, D.C. Evidently he traveled widely, having studied with W. L...

A drawing with ink, pencil, watercolor and gouache on laid paper depicting a harbor scene very much in the manner of the French artist Claude Vernet (1714-1789). Perhaps there is a print source for this drawing. The work is signed in the lower right, “Tho. Ryves. 1770.” The most likely artist is either the father Thomas Ryves (1721-1788) or his son Thomas (born 1753) from the distinguished Dorset, England family...

This appears to be an original painting on silk, circa 1960's or 1970's, 15" by 17 1/4" framed, Chinese calligraphy and red seal at left. I say "appears" because there is a Windsor Art Products label on the reverse, suggesting this would be a print or multiple of some type. Having examined it very closely, however, it does still look to me like original work, and not a silkscreen. I believe that original work was sold by Windsor, it having paid artists to create art in bulk...

Circa 1960's drip painting on paper, 22 1/2" by 18", unsigned, mounted to a thin board. This is not a Jackson Pollock or Sam Francis, but it is a work of art and it has age. The thin paper is glued down at least at the edges and possibly in the center as well. The paper is browned where it has been under the mat for many years, (about 1 3/4" to about 1/2") and there is puckering where the paper has been glued...

A pretty watercolor of a lakeshore, titled on backing "Reservoir Cristaline/France", signed at lower right illegibly and dated 1959. The work measures 12" by 15 1/4" inside the mat and 21" by 24" in a gold frame. The signature reads something like "B N Fleur" or "Fleury" but to date despite considerable efforts in that direction, I have not been able to identify the obviously talented artist. Watercolor is in excellent condition, frame has wear, especially on bottom and right sides...

A detailed watercolor over ink and slight highlighting with gum Arabic of a man with a donkey loaded with two conical panniers of fresh vegetables approaching a man working at a board over a large cask of water with a stand of fresh vegetables behind him. The man with the donkey is probably from the country and trying to sell his produce to the stall owner. The page is roughly 12 7/8 x 16 5/8 inches (33 x 42 cm). The opening for the image is 11 ¼ x 14 ¼ inches (28.5 x 36 cm)...

A watercolor on paper of a fruit seller’s stall or shop with a display of many different fruits while the merchant weighs fruit for two children, a woman turns away with figs in her basket and a young man in the shadows of the awning looks out, perhaps at the young woman with the figs. The watercolor shows touches of gouache and a few places the dark heightened with gum arabic. The paper is 13 ½ x 16 ¾ inches (34 x 42 cm) and the mat opening is 11 ¼ x/14 ¼ (28.5 x 36 cm)...

An impressionist work, possibly mixed media on paper or board, the scene a birds-eye view of a house on steep hillside surrounded by pink-blooming trees, a view to a plain beyond. The painting, 7" by 9 3/4" (14 3/4" by 17 3/4" framed) is signed at lower left by the noted Utah artist KIRK RANDLE (1952-). Randle, a Utah native, received a Presidential Scholarship in 1971, which he used to further his studies at The University of Utah...

A beautiful, accomplished watercolor landscape painting of a gully with running water, 10 1/2" by 14 1/2" (19" by 22 1/2" in early 20th century gold frame), signed at lower left by the noted California art pioneer WILLIAM LEES JUDSON (1842-1928). The work is in unusually fresh condition, the colors true and not faded. I note a small, obviously very old water drop at extreme upper right, where the tree line meets the right edge. Viewing out of the frame revealed no further information such as ...

An American contemporary theorem still life painting in the traditional 19th century familiar style, signed by artist Esther M. Attridge and dated on reverse framing paper 1973. The work measures 10 1/2" by 13 1/2" and about 12 1/2" by 15 1/2" in the gold framing. Some contemporary artists have made names for themselves by copying the old American folk art theorem style. Similar works by one latter-day artist named David Ellinger are highly sought after and are auctioned. A pleasing work fo...

Brooks Pettus (1918-2003) was a noted western American artist who passed away in Kennewick, Washington, leaving behind a large body of work in watercolor and oil that only recently appeared on the market. Pettus earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico, and spent time in Albuquerque and Taos in the early 1940's. New Mexico's artistically inspiring landscape stimulated Pettus' aesthetic sense as it has for countless others. Even though he became a professional engineer, mo...

PAIR of watercolor paintings of young women, one walking on a path, appearing very young, sweet and naive, a pitcher in hand (possibly a milk maid), the other a more sophisticated lady in a sun bonnet and elegant dress, watering can in hand, attending to her potted geraniums. Although the works themselves are of the same size, and frames are identical in style, the frames differ slightly in size. The lady in bonnet measures 12" by 7 3/4" (19 1/2" by 15 1/2" framed), the other, 12 1/4" by 7 3/4...

Watercolor on heavy, pebbled paper, 8 7/8" by 6 1/2" (13 1/4" by 11" in simple framing), signed at lower right and dated there 1830 by the listed French artist JOSEPH FRICERO (1807-1870). The subject is a young, bearded man who appears almost as a religious figure. The drawing is heavily foxed in the field, adding to its antiquity. Some words are written in French on the reverse but the only one I can decipher is "bois" (wood). For a long time I had thought this possibly an Old Master drawin...

A watercolor with white gouache of a barn and another structure on an overcast, gray, snowy day, an old buckboard wagon at right center, the work signed below the mat GENE R DREW. I do not see a listing for the artist, who likely painted this around the year 1970 judging from the framing and non-glare type glass (which will be discarded before shipping). The piece, on Crescent art board, measures 18 3/4" by 25" inside the mat, and 25" by 31" in worn dark oak framing. The scene is poetic and p...

Three small watercolor paintings of classic scenes of Japan, two signed by artist "Kyo" or similar, each measuring 6 1/4" by 2 7/8". The three are mounted together and framed as one (measuring 13" by 20 1/2"). One painting is of a peaceful village scene; one of a small platform with lanterns; and one of a torii gate. These likely date to the early years of the 20th century. Condition is excellent. The frame has some beading loss, especially at lower left. I have one of the missing pieces ...

Old (pre 1920, possibly as early as late 19th century) watercolor of coastal rocks, 10" by 14", the frame in which found measuring 18 1/2" by 22", signed at lower right "T. G. Stowers". The work, found in New England, was mounted on an old board years ago. As it was loose in the frame, I have removed it for photography, and will ship it between boards. The old frame has some losses and is available at no extra cost. Research to date has not led to a listed artist name that would correspond. ...